This week I talk to comedy writer Helen Burak (The Salmon Pages, Lights Out podcast) about "Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me)" by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. We dive into the book's main topic -- how most people are utterly determined to avoid admitting their mistakes. We also talk about the importance of failure, the debunked science of repressed memories being recalled through hypnosis, and taking improv classes at UCB. Many things! You should follow Helen on Twitter @helenburak and check out her articles on The Salmon Pages (on Medium and Facebook) if you like laughing at Hollywood. As always, all of my stuff is on TylerEaton.net

This week Taylor Williams takes us back to the horrors of high school bullying and sexual awakenings with Frank Portman's "King Dork". We talk a bit about our own days in high school, wrestle with whether or not the book has a reliable narrator, and how it deals with the oftentimes horrible ways that real teenagers speak and how these young men and women are portrayed in the story. You can find Taylor on Twitter @FilmMajorRegret or IG @TDubbInDaClub and all of my stuff at TylerEaton.net 

John Warder (Rhett and Link, You Thought This Was A Game?) takes us through the early career of Steve Martin in his autobiographical memoir "Born Standing Up". We talk about our own early days at the University of Texas, his work as a short form producer at Rhett and Link, and Martin's transition from the biggest stand up comic in the world to movie star. You can follow John on Twitter or IG @biscuitpancakes and find my stuff at TylerEaton.net

Writer/Comedian Michael Ornelas (Michael's Spin On Things) came across a rare children's book series called "Mr. T and Me" in which Mr. T pops into the lives of children and gives them brilliant life advice. Michael knew he had to make the purchase of a lifetime. We read through both "Phony Baloney and the Counterfeit Kid" and "The Best Bike Ever". But to find out about these "foolproof" life lessons, you'll have to take a listen. You can follow Michael on Twitter @TouchButtPro or check out his Youtube series "Michael's Spin On Things". You can find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net

Writer Olga Lexell delves into Michelle McNamara's "I'll Be Gone In The Dark", one woman's search for the Golden State Killer. It's an incredible book that led to an actual arrest. Follow Olga on Twitter @runolgarun and find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net!

Cooking, comedy, finding your thing -- this was a great talk with Mike Glazer (Glazed, Weed + Grub) about Bill Buford's book "Heat" which is about an acclaimed editor at the New Yorker abandoning his career to pursue cooking in a high-end restaurant. We discuss Mike's love of cooking, how it connects to his stand up and writing, about what a monster Mario Batali is, and our not-so-great experiences waiting tables in the past. 

You can follow Mike on either Twitter or IG @glazerboohoohoo and find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net!

Matthew Scott Kane (Stitchers) has read three books about Charles Manson and his "Family" and is here to tell us all about their crimes and the dark series of events that led up to them. ***Please note that some of the material we cover is quite graphic*** The books we discuss are "Helter Skelter" by Vincent Bugliosi, "Manson In His Own Words" by Charles Manson, and "Member of the Family" by Dianne Lake. You can follow Matthew on Instagram @kanematthewscott and find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net!

Comedy writer Nick Watson (Final Space) joins me to get real nerdy about the Star Wars Expanded Universe (now relabeled as Legends), specifically the Thrawn Trilogy. We go over just how enormous the Expanded Universe of books, TV shows, and video games really is. Like, did you know that there's a whole book about the band from the cantina on Tatooine? Or what genre of music they play? The answer will astound you. Also, do Sith get unemployment benefits? We cover that too. Give Nick a follow @_njwatson on Twitter, listen to his podcast "Paper Team", or read some of our Hollywood satire at The Salmon Pages on Medium. You can also find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net!

The sequel to my conversation about The Dark Tower Series with Scott Root! We cover books 5 - 7 as well as the recent film adaptation starring Idris Elba and how we might approach adapting the series to television (as will inevitably happen). Give Scott a follow on IG or Twitter @notablyscott and find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net!

Writer-friend-collaborator Scott Root takes us to Mid-World in our conversation about the entire Dark Tower series by Stephen King. We've got stoic gunslingers, we've got doors to alternate dimensions, we've got giant lobsters that'll tear your fingers off! The series is so enormous that it had to be broken into two episodes, so here's part one which covers the first four books: "The Gunslinger", "The Drawing of the Three", "The Wastelands", and "Wizard and Glass". Follow Scott on Twitter and Instagram @NotablyScott and find all of my stuff on TylerEaton.net!